Switch-bar attachment



(No Model.)

, P. O. WEIR. SWITCH BAR ATTACHMENT.

No. 374,100. Patented Nov. 29, 1887.

a 8 a 6 nl l I w W0 z T UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREDRIO C. WEIR, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

SWITCH-BAR ATTACHMENT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 374,100, dated November29, 1887.

Application filed July 12, 1887. Serial No. 244,101. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that -I, FREDRIC O. WEIR, of Cincinnati,in the county ofHamilton and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Switch-Bar Attachments, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to a novel construction of a switch-bar clamp andholder.

One of the objects of this invention is to furnish, to a limited extent,flexibility in the switch-bars, so that they will move easily, and bringthe switch-rail into position without being bent or sprung.

Another object of my invention is to employ the bolts in a horizontalposition which fastens the switch bar to its clamp, so that the nutswill be less liable to come off and the bolts drop out.

Another object of the invention is to provide suitable means forclamping the switchbar in such a way as to take up 10st motion and toprevent rattling, producing a slightlyflexible but firm attachment ofthe switch-bar to the rail, all of which will be hereinafter set forth.To accomplish these results I employ the devices illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, making a part of this specification, in whichFigure l is a sectional elevation of my improvement. Fig. 2 is anenlarged View of one of the switch-bar clamps attached to the rail shownin sections. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the clamps attached to theswitch-bar. Fig. 4 is a section on line 00 :r, Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is asection on line y 3 Fig. 3.

l 1 represent the main or whole rails; 2 2, the switch or movable rails;3, the switch-bar. I have shown this bar in Fig. l with one end adaptedto be attached to a vertical switch stand and the other end adapted tobe attached 7 to a horizontal switch-stand.

4 represents theswitch-bar clamp andliolder. The base of this is a platepierced with holes to receive the fastening-bolts 5.

6 6 represent strengthening-ribs castontothe plate and projectingoutward and downward and terminating in a bifurcated arm, a, which formsthe attaching switch-barsupport, having the slot 7 adapted to receivethe switch-bar, lugs or shoulders 8 on which the same rest, a space, 9,between the shoulders 8, shoulders 10 at the top of opening 7, and theslot 11 between said shoulders 1 The opening 7 is made flaring orbeveling from the center outward, as shown in Fig. 5. This accomplishestwo offices. First, it allows the switch-bar to be clamped by thefork-arms a, which, owing to the slots 9 and 11, allow it to be sprungsufficiently to clamp the bar and yet allow it to spring sidewise ineither direction. To accommodate itself to the end movement of the rail,caused by contraction and expansion, this construction also allows theswitch-barto be used vertically with thefastening-bolts5lyinginhorizontalposition. The construction here shownhas the supporting arms a projecting downward below the rails asufficient distance, so that the switch-bar may be passed clear throughunder the rail, and is the preferred form of construction.

Having described my invention, whatIclaim 1s- 1. In combination with theswitch-rails, the switch-bar-clamp holder attached to said rails, withthe bifurcated arms a a, forming openings 7, and the opening 9 betweenthe supporting-shoulders 8, substantially as specified.

2. The switch-bar clamp and holder, composed of base 4 and thesupporting-arms a at, having an opening,7,the supporting-shoulders 8 and10, and openings 9 and 11 between said shoulders, substantially asspecified.

3. The switch-bar clamp composed of the base 4 and the arms a a, withthe faces of said arms beveled from the center outward, the opening 9,and bolt 12, whereby the switch-bar 3 is securely clamped at the centerof thesupport, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

FREDRIG O. WEIR. Witnesses:

EDMUND'K. STALLO, J. WATSON Sons.

